In 2010, the average age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes in India was 8%, higher than that in most European countries

In India, as in the West, diabetes is ultimately due to chronically high levels of blood glucose, and some of the clinical consequences are similar. But whereas Westerners think of type 2 diabetes as an adult-onset disease appearing especially after the age of 50, Indians (and Chinese, Japanese and Aboriginal Australians) with diabetes exhibit symptoms at an age one or two decades younger than that. The age of onset in India has been shifting towards ever-younger people even within the past decade9 — among Indians in their late teens, 'adult-onset' diabetes already manifests itself more often than does 'juvenile-onset' diabetes. In Britain, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is 14 times higher in Asian than European children. And although obesity is a risk factor for diabetes both in India and in the West, the disease appears at a lower threshold of obesity in India, as is also the case in China, Japan and other Asian countries.

Symptoms also differ between Indians and Westerners: Indians with diabetes are less likely to develop blindness and kidney disease, but much more likely to suffer coronary artery disease at a relatively young age

He stresses the difference in prevalence between rich and poor Indians, and discusses how these differences are the opposite of what we observe in the US and Europe, for example, where socio-economic status is positively correlated with health.Given Jared Diamond's past speculation on the evolutionary and/or genetic causes of these types of epidemics, I thought he might have expounded on that, as others have, but alas, he didn't.

First off, I came across your site and wanted to say thanks for providing a great diabetes resource to the community.

This hilarious list, 29 Things Only a Person with Diabetes Would Understand, has really resonated with our followers because it provides emotional support and understanding in a comical way, and I thought you might enjoy it as well: http://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/would-understand

Naturally, I’d be delighted if you share this list on http://yannklimentidis.blogspot.com/2011/01/jared-diamond-on-type-2-diabetes-in.html , and/or on social , especially because they could really relate. Either way, keep up the great work Yann!